Remodeling 20ft shipping containers into mobile diagnostic labs in Accra & Kumasi
Location: Accra & Kumasi, Ghana
Completion: October 2021
Project Duration: 10 Days
Client: LEDing Medical Laboratory
Project Type: Healthcare / Commercial
Project Background
In 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals in Accra were overwhelmed with testing demands. LEDing Medical Lab sought an agile, cost-effective alternative to renting and outfitting new facilities. Their idea: transform decommissioned 20ft shipping containers into mobile medical labs that could be relocated between Accra and Kumasi.
The challenge was clear: how do you design a facility that meets health and safety standards, offers staff and patients dignity and comfort, yet remains portable, rapid to assemble, and affordable?
Our team responded by converting two 20ft containers into mobile diagnostic laboratories, extending each unit by 5ft to accommodate washrooms and office space. What began as a logistical solution quickly evolved into a case study in sustainable modular construction for healthcare.
Design & Construction Scope
-Conversion of 2 × 20ft containers into mobile medical labs
-5ft structural extension for washrooms and admin/testing buffer
-Partitioned interior with office, waiting, and testing spaces
-Skimmed walls, painting, tiling, and insulation for thermal control
-Electrical rewiring and plumbing installations
-Transportation and placement at 37 Military Hospital (Accra) and Kumasi
Design Approach
- Thermal Comfort & Passive Ventilation
Shipping containers are notorious for heat retention. To create a safe, usable environment:
- Orientation maximized natural breezes and cross-ventilation
- Operable windows and doors introduced airflow pathways
- Rockwool insulation in walls and ceilings improved thermal inertia
- AC units installed to handle peak-hour heat loads in tropical dry seasons
- Material Optimization & Circular Design
- Repurposing 2 × 20ft ISO shipping containers diverted 4,600 kg of Corten steel from waste streams
- Modular assemblies designed for disassembly, reuse, or expansion in future phases
- Reinforced slab foundations ensured leveling and water drainage
- Contextual Integration
- Exterior finishes aligned with Leding’s brand palette
- Industrial aesthetic contrasted with surrounding concrete hospital architecture
- Use of local artisans, trained in modular detailing, embedded knowledge transfer in the project
Construction Strategy
Rapid Assembly Model:
- 10-day build timeline achieved by parallel fabrication and site preparation
- Containers pre-cut, framed, and insulated off-site
- Foundations and anchoring prepared ahead of delivery
- Units craned, transported, and installed on slab foundations in Accra and Kumasi
Durability & Maintenance:
- Oil-based washable paints for interiors (infection control & humidity resistance)
- Anti-rust treatments and vibrant exteriors for resilience and visual appeal
- Minimal waste: leftover materials recycled or reused
Performance & Impact
Healthcare Access & Flexibility
The mobile labs proved that diagnostic services can be agile. Instead of permanent, high-cost facilities, relocatable labs lowered barriers to access while reducing operating costs.
Local Skills Development
Over 10 tradespeople participated — many learning modular construction, passive cooling, and metal joinery for the first time. This created a skills pipeline for Ghana’s sustainable construction sector.
Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency
- 4,600 kg of steel reused from containers
- Construction waste minimized, aligning with global SDG principles
- Model demonstrates how repurposed materials can achieve high-value healthcare outcomes
Reflections for the Built Environment Community
The LEDing Mobile Labs are more than a pandemic response. They represent a scalable model for civic infrastructure in contexts where land, time, and money are constrained.
For architects, planners, and engineers, the project raises probing questions:
- What other public services can be mobilized this way: schools, clinics, libraries?
- How might modular, relocatable architecture redefine civic infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing African cities?
- In a warming world, how do we make temporary architecture not just fast, but resilient, dignified, and sustainable?
Technical Summary
Feature | Specification |
Structural Modules | 2 × 20ft containers + 5ft extensions |
Built Area | ~42 m² (combined) |
Recycled Steel | ~4,600 kg diverted |
Insulation | Rockwool (walls & ceiling) |
Interior Finishes | Oil-based washable paints, emulsion paints |
Foundations | Slab-on-grade concrete |
Cooling Strategy | Cross-ventilation + AC |
Duration | 10 days |
Why It Matters
For communities in West Africa, access to healthcare infrastructure cannot be bound by brick-and-mortar timelines or capital-intensive models. The LEDing Mobile Labs proved that healthcare can be mobile, modular, and sustainable without compromising quality.
This project is a blueprint for how container architecture, when thoughtfully adapted, can save lives, reduce costs, and open new possibilities for building in the Global South.
Project Team
- Project Manager: Rukie Kwaku Agyeman, PMP
- Construction Team: Maxwell Zah, Emmanuel Torwudzo, Abraham Ayeer, Ignatius Tetteh, Isaac Ofori Mensah
- Vendors: Installation Specialist Ltd, More Beyond Décor Tiles, Kingsley Cranes & Transport